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MMORPGs today use a wide range of business models, from free of charge (with microtransactions) or advertise funded to various kinds of payment plans. This list uses the following terms.

Free-to-play (F2P) means that there is no cost to purchase the software and there is no subscription charge or added payments needed to access game content. Variably applies to traditionally bought and forever available games. Almost all newer MMOs that fall under this category now includes heavy microtransactions however, which causes them to overlap with the Freemium model most of the time.

Freemium means that the majority or all of the game's content is available for free but players can pay for extra content, added perks or faster advancement into the game via microtransactions.

Pay-to-play means that the MMO can only be played through purchasing of the game box or/as well as paying a monthly subscription fee for access to the game after the free trial from the game box has expired. This is the least common model as games must be exceptionally successful and popular in order to keep their players invested so that they continue to pay the subscription fee.

Manual aim action combat (Formally a subscription based MMO, but subscription requirement was changed to optional on Tuesday, March 17, 2015. Purchase of game from retailers or The Elder Scrolls Online website still required)

Browser-based, Java and HTML 5. Optional membership will unlock more skills and quests as well as access to Old School Runescape, and allow players access to Runescape Classic if it's unlocked for them.

Development started back in 2006 as Mechscape, which was scrapped in 2009. In 2010 Stellar Dawn was announced, though in March of 2012 the development was paused so the developer, Jagex, could focus on their other games.